Venue: Waterstones Oxford
Date: 14th September, 2012
Time: 6.30 to 8pm
Thank you, marvellous family and friends. Thank you, wonderful staff of Waterstones Oxford, led by Events Manager, Charlie Hayes. Thank you, Colin Dexter, for your warm and enthusiastic support.
Yes, I owe thanks to the many people who helped me to ensure that the The Road Back was launched in style on Friday evening. Happily, several friends captured moments from the fabulous evening with their cameras, and I’d like to share some of those moments with you.
Greeting friends Linda Harris, Carole Print, Alison Holloway
Greeting Angela Stack
Facing the camera, Chris Blountfield. My older son, Luke, is to his left
My husband, with wine, among the people gathering in Waterstones Oxford
Far left, brother-in-law, Dr. Geoff Watts, talking to my son, Luke. In front of Luke, son Jake looks at the flowers that Waterstones gave me
In the front, Jane Gordon-Cumming. At the back, her husband, Edwin Osborn. To the left, Kevin, a friend from my village
Talking to David Vachell, Eileen Barnes Vachell & my husband, Richard
Facing the camera, Ahilleas Maurellis & Sonja Francis of Thame News online
Food being passed around (Fair enough; it's a bit obvious!). Ann Delaney looks around
Younger son, Jake, with Angela Stack
Far left, Julie Roberts; centre, London friend, James Plant, talking to Kevin. Far right, my cousin, Alan
What on earth could I have been saying!
Sarah Andrew, a young friend from London; my sister, Diana Ellis, and my son, Luke
Brother-in-law, Geoff, with my cousin, Alan, and his wife, Janet
Angela Stack with Nikki Fine
Lizzy Edmondson, Sonja Francis, & Kate Lace with food
Heather Rosser, enjoying herself, with Mary Cavanagh just behind her
Son Jake's partner, Angela Burgess, with Julia Knight & Ann Delaney
Watched by Nikki Fine on her right, and Julie Roberts behind her, Angela Stack has a message for the camera! Carol McGrath has her back to Angela and misses the message
Kate Lace offering food to Angela Stack & Carol McGrath
Mary Cavanagh & Maggi Fox
Colin Dexter, creator of Oxford's Inspector Morse
Colin Dexter with Kyla & her friend
Berkshire friends, Carole & Linda, talking to Colin Dexter
On the topic of bookmarks, with my Friend from the North, Stella Lee
Signing a book for Jane Gordon-Cumming. Mary Cavanagh & Sue Andrew look on
Signing a book for my sister, Diana
Signing a book for Chrissy Hayes, with Radio Marlow, and her mother
I wonder what Sarah and Nikki are looking at!
Signing books for Heather Rosser, Jan Sprenger & Beth Elliott
Alison Bacon, Maggi Fox & Kate Lace
Sylvia Vetta talking to a friend and Linora Lawrence
With Alison Bacon
Sarah Watkinson and her husband, talking with Edwin Osborn
It's time to think about my reading from The Road Back. Discussing this with Charlie Hayes, Events' Manager of Waterstones Oxford
Enjoying a joke with Colin Dexter as I prepare to read from my book
Introducing my characters, Patricia and Kalden, to everyone in the room
Charlie Hayes' fast action with a particular book causes much amusement
Listening to Colin Dexter's amusing talk
With my reading and Colin's talk over, it's time to sign more books
Signing a book for Tim Griggs
Carol McGrath engrossed in conversation with Colin Dexter
Talking to Ahilleas Maurelli
Charlie Hayes and Kate Lace share a joke
Charlie Hayes draws our attention to the fact that it's time to wind down the launch
So it's goodbye, staff at Waterstones Oxford. Thank you for helping us to have a brilliant evening and to send The Road Back in to the world in style.
Looks like a fabulous time, Liz! Many congratulations.
Many thanks, Talli and Helen. It was a really lovely evening. I’m delighted to have as many photos of it as I have – those are but a drop in the ocean! x
Brilliant it looks like you had a fabulous night Liz. I’m looking forward to reading The Road Back, good luck with everything.
Helen x
An excellent night, it seems!! Again, congratulations.
What section of TLB did you use for your reading??
John
I used the opening paragraphs of Patricia, aged 7, to the point where her father told her it wasn’t good enough. And I used the opening paragraphs of Kalden, aged 8, to the point where he sighed deeply. I wanted to introduce them to the people there.
It was a lovely evening, thanks to my family, friends, Waterstones Oxford and Colin Dexter.
Good choices!!!
What a lovely evening! So glad it was well attended and everyone had so much fun. I wish you every success with TRB x
What a wonderful evening, Liz. Many congratulations and wish I lived closer (though I know that branch well!)
Thanks you for your lovely comments, Phillipa and Mandy. I, too, wished you lived closer. xx
What a joyous evening! Congratulations on a well-deserved success. Since that RNA meeting in the New Cav when we first met, I’ve been privileged to share your journey there. You’ve always been cheerful and determined and now you’ve reached success.
One last thing – sell lots!
I remember our journey well, Alison, and it hasn’t finished yet – not for either of us. Being published, like a wedding, is only the beginning, not the end, and I’m certin that you are close to that same beginning. x
Looks like a lovely evening that was worth all the organisational effort, Liz. Congratulations. xxx
Many thanks, Sue. Yes, it was worth every minute of the effort it took, and the worry that filled the run-up days. x
Huge congrats on what looks to be a fantastic launch, Liz! So, so happy for you. I will always remember your kind welcome at the single Oxford RNA lunch i attended before starting up the Bath/Wilts chapter. I was so nervous and you made me feel completed relaxed within minutes.
No one deserves this more. I’ve just downloaded my copy, look forward to reading it!
Hope to see you at the Winter party,
Best
Rachel x
Me, too, I remember your visit very clearly. Wiltshire’s gain is Oxford’s loss. I look forward to catching up properly at the Winter Party. It’ll be fun. x
What a wonderful wonderful evening. Pretty magical I’d say 🙂 Massive congratulations again Liz. Will hopefully get to share a celebratory glass or two with you at Festival of Romance. Sx
The two sounds better, Sarah! I’m very much looking forward to it.
Thank you for your comment. x
Liz – it was a great night and so lovely to share your success. I’m really looking forward to reading my SIGNED copy. :o)
Hugs
Jan x
I’m so glad you were able to be there, Jan. The flowers are beautiful. Did I tell you that my sister thoroughly enjoyed talking to you? I think I may have done 🙂
Oh, it’s almost as good as being there, Liz – thank you for sharing the photos. Congratulations!
Many thanks, Chris! The first novel out in the world should be a special day. Everyone there helped to make sure that it was! x
it looks like it was a wonderful night. So sorry to miss but loved the photos!!!
lx
It was lovely. I am so grateful to you for your helpful advice. For a start, I wouldn’t have had photos had you not reminded me that I wouldn’t be able to take them myself! x
Utterly gorgeous! Looked like the most fabulous time – only sorry that I, too, am so far away, otherwise I should have loved to have had a quick move and shake among all those movers and shakers. And I loved the colour of your top, Liz, made you shine!
The first top I’d thought of wearinbg had been a black one, and the second. Then I suddenly decided to go mad – yes, switching from black to a colour is going mad for me!! – I went for the sherbert orange. In the end, I’m glad I went for a colour.
Many thanks for your comment. I look forward to seeing you at The Festival of Romance in November.
It looks great and I was indeed so privileged to be there and talking to Colin Dexter. The ‘fifty sheds of grey’ speech was unforgettable but, of course, so is The Road Back and as Colin says you can write English. Having read the book I can tell those who have not to read it. It is worth it and ‘she’ the lady author pictured above deserves all the success that lies ahead for her.
What a lovely comment, Carol. Thank you for it, and thank you for all the lovely things you’ve said about The Road Back. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to being able to read The Handfasted Wife. x
It looks such a fantastic celebration, Liz. Thank you for putting all the pictures on your blog. I was SO disappointed not to be there! x
It really was a super evening, Emma. I’m so glad that I have a lot of lovely photos as a tangible permanent reminder.
I hope to see you soon – at the next Ox lunch, maybe. x
Fabulous photos of what was a wonderful launch. I so wish I could have been there, Liz, to give you my congratulations and a big hug. Just glad I was able to congratulate you on The Road Back in person at The RNA conference in July – although that’s not quite the same as attending your party.
Love, Janice xx
We’ll take it that I had a virtual hug from from you 🙂
I look forward to meeting up again, Janice. Next time we’ll have longer in which to talk, I hope. The conference was such a whirl of social activity and the rest that we were like ships passing in the night! x
Lovely photos Liz-looks as though it was a wonderful evening (and you have lots of lovely-looking friends and family members!) I’m enjoying The Road Back and have almost finished it. I think the characters Patricia and her father are beautifully constructed. I can picture them both so clearly and the house where they live. And those bridges in Ladakh sound frightening-did your uncle cross any of them? Wishing you lots of luck with The Road Back and hope to see you at the RNA Winter Party-must sort out my ticket and organise cover for the children…!
I, too, look forward to seeing you at the Winter Party.
Many thanks for your lovely comments about The Road Back. Yes, my uncle did cross some of the bridges. It would be very difficult to get around Ladakh without crossing any at all. Particularly at the time the book was set, it wasn’t at all uncommon for accidents to happen.
The sausage rolls were a great success, thank you!! I do so love them, and they’re so easy to make. xx
ps, hope the sausage rolls went down well!
What a fab launch. Wish I’d been there. Gillix
It would have been lovely if you’d have been able to be there; it was such fun. Perhaps I’ll see you at the RNA Winter Party, if not before. I hope so. x
I was so sorry I couldn’t be there Liz – it looks like a fab night. You deserve evey moment of it.
Janet XX
Many thanks, Janet.
I look forward to seeing you before too long. And I need to have a word with John – Choc Lit have put a book of mine out on kindle only. It’s called Evie Undercover. I’d like him to add it to my website list. I’ll write to him as soon as I’ve handed in ms fro next book, which will be tomorrow. x